some m4b file not playing in app but working in browser #696

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opened 2026-04-24 23:34:40 +02:00 by adam · 13 comments
Owner

Originally created by @Gokalex on GitHub (Sep 9, 2023).

It only happens with some m4b files, not all, should i upload one that doesn't work?
In the app, when i play stream nothing happens, same with download, in the browser (from the same android phone) it streams correctly and downloads the zip.

Audiobookshelf Version:

  • Android App

Android Issue

Android version: 0.9.65-beta

Device model:
Nothing Phone 1

Originally created by @Gokalex on GitHub (Sep 9, 2023). It only happens with some m4b files, not all, should i upload one that doesn't work? In the app, when i play stream nothing happens, same with download, in the browser (from the same android phone) it streams correctly and downloads the zip. Audiobookshelf Version: - [x] Android App #### Android Issue Android version: 0.9.65-beta Device model: Nothing Phone 1
adam added the bug label 2026-04-24 23:34:40 +02:00
adam closed this issue 2026-04-24 23:34:41 +02:00
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Owner

@advplyr commented on GitHub (Sep 9, 2023):

Please share the full ffprobe you can get from the web client

@advplyr commented on GitHub (Sep 9, 2023): Please share the full ffprobe you can get from the web client
Author
Owner

@Gokalex commented on GitHub (Sep 9, 2023):

{
"programs": [],
"streams": [
{
"index": 0,
"codec_name": "aac",
"codec_long_name": "AAC (Advanced Audio Coding)",
"profile": "LC",
"codec_type": "audio",
"codec_tag_string": "mp4a",
"codec_tag": "0x6134706d",
"sample_fmt": "fltp",
"sample_rate": "22050",
"channels": 2,
"channel_layout": "stereo",
"bits_per_sample": 0,
"initial_padding": 0,
"id": "0x1",
"r_frame_rate": "0/0",
"avg_frame_rate": "0/0",
"time_base": "1/22050",
"start_pts": 0,
"start_time": "0.000000",
"duration_ts": 865487872,
"duration": "39251.150658",
"bit_rate": "62794",
"nb_frames": "845203",
"extradata_size": 2,
"disposition": {
"default": 1,
"dub": 0,
"original": 0,
"comment": 0,
"lyrics": 0,
"karaoke": 0,
"forced": 0,
"hearing_impaired": 0,
"visual_impaired": 0,
"clean_effects": 0,
"attached_pic": 0,
"timed_thumbnails": 0,
"captions": 0,
"descriptions": 0,
"metadata": 0,
"dependent": 0,
"still_image": 0
},
"tags": {
"language": "und",
"handler_name": "SoundHandler",
"vendor_id": "[0][0][0][0]"
}
},
{
"index": 1,
"codec_name": "bin_data",
"codec_long_name": "binary data",
"codec_type": "data",
"codec_tag_string": "text",
"codec_tag": "0x74786574",
"id": "0x2",
"r_frame_rate": "0/0",
"avg_frame_rate": "0/0",
"time_base": "1/1000",
"start_pts": 0,
"start_time": "0.000000",
"duration_ts": 32171850,
"duration": "32171.850000",
"nb_frames": "7",
"extradata_size": 43,
"disposition": {
"default": 0,
"dub": 0,
"original": 0,
"comment": 0,
"lyrics": 0,
"karaoke": 0,
"forced": 0,
"hearing_impaired": 0,
"visual_impaired": 0,
"clean_effects": 0,
"attached_pic": 0,
"timed_thumbnails": 0,
"captions": 0,
"descriptions": 0,
"metadata": 0,
"dependent": 0,
"still_image": 0
},
"tags": {
"language": "eng",
"handler_name": "SubtitleHandler"
}
},
{
"index": 2,
"codec_name": "mjpeg",
"codec_long_name": "Motion JPEG",
"profile": "Baseline",
"codec_type": "video",
"codec_tag_string": "[0][0][0][0]",
"codec_tag": "0x0000",
"width": 500,
"height": 500,
"coded_width": 500,
"coded_height": 500,
"closed_captions": 0,
"film_grain": 0,
"has_b_frames": 0,
"sample_aspect_ratio": "1:1",
"display_aspect_ratio": "1:1",
"pix_fmt": "yuvj420p",
"level": -99,
"color_range": "pc",
"color_space": "bt470bg",
"chroma_location": "center",
"refs": 1,
"id": "0x0",
"r_frame_rate": "90000/1",
"avg_frame_rate": "0/0",
"time_base": "1/90000",
"start_pts": 0,
"start_time": "0.000000",
"duration_ts": 3532603559,
"duration": "39251.150656",
"bits_per_raw_sample": "8",
"disposition": {
"default": 0,
"dub": 0,
"original": 0,
"comment": 0,
"lyrics": 0,
"karaoke": 0,
"forced": 0,
"hearing_impaired": 0,
"visual_impaired": 0,
"clean_effects": 0,
"attached_pic": 1,
"timed_thumbnails": 0,
"captions": 0,
"descriptions": 0,
"metadata": 0,
"dependent": 0,
"still_image": 0
}
}
],
"chapters": [
{
"id": 0,
"time_base": "1/1000",
"start": 0,
"start_time": "0.000000",
"end": 5227926,
"end_time": "5227.926000",
"tags": {
"title": "001"
}
},
{
"id": 1,
"time_base": "1/1000",
"start": 5227926,
"start_time": "5227.926000",
"end": 9587287,
"end_time": "9587.287000",
"tags": {
"title": "002"
}
},
{
"id": 2,
"time_base": "1/1000",
"start": 9587287,
"start_time": "9587.287000",
"end": 13846384,
"end_time": "13846.384000",
"tags": {
"title": "003"
}
},
{
"id": 3,
"time_base": "1/1000",
"start": 13846384,
"start_time": "13846.384000",
"end": 20254162,
"end_time": "20254.162000",
"tags": {
"title": "004"
}
},
{
"id": 4,
"time_base": "1/1000",
"start": 20254162,
"start_time": "20254.162000",
"end": 25759521,
"end_time": "25759.521000",
"tags": {
"title": "005"
}
},
{
"id": 5,
"time_base": "1/1000",
"start": 25759521,
"start_time": "25759.521000",
"end": 32171850,
"end_time": "32171.850000",
"tags": {
"title": "006"
}
},
{
"id": 6,
"time_base": "1/10000000",
"start": 321718500000,
"start_time": "32171.850000",
"end": 392511506580,
"end_time": "39251.150658",
"tags": {
"title": "007"
}
}
],
"format": {
"filename": "/audiobooks/ENG/Andrzej Sapkowski/The Witcher Saga/1994 - Blood of Elves (Krew elfów)/Blood of elves (the Witcher 1).m4b",
"nb_streams": 3,
"nb_programs": 0,
"format_name": "mov,mp4,m4a,3gp,3g2,mj2",
"format_long_name": "QuickTime / MOV",
"start_time": "0.000000",
"duration": "39251.150658",
"size": "311521882",
"bit_rate": "63493",
"probe_score": 100,
"tags": {
"major_brand": "isom",
"minor_version": "512",
"compatible_brands": "isomiso2mp41",
"artist": "Andrzej Sapkowski",
"composer": "Peter Kenny",
"album": "Blood of Elves (Unabridged)",
"date": "2014",
"encoder": "inAudible 1.97",
"comment": "For more than a hundred years humans, dwarves, gnomes and elves lived together in relative peace. But times have changed, the uneasy peace is over and now the races once again fight each other - and themselves: Dwarves are killing their kinsmen, and elve",
"genre": "Audiobook",
"description": "For more than a hundred years humans, dwarves, gnomes and elves lived together in relative peace. But times have changed, the uneasy peace is over and now the races once again fight each other - and themselves: Dwarves are killing their kinsmen, and elves are murdering humans and elves, at least those elves who are friendly to humans... Into this tumultuous time is born a child for whom the witchers of the world have been waiting. \nCiri, the granddaughter of Queen Calanthe, the Lioness of Cintra, has strange powers and a stranger destiny, for prophecy names her the Flame, one with the power to change the world - for good, or for evil... Geralt, the witcher of Rivia, has taken Ciri to the relative safety of the Witchers' Settlement, but it soon becomes clear that Ciri isn't like the other witchers. As the political situation grows ever dimmer and the threat of war hangs almost palpably over the land, Geralt searches for someone to train Ciri's unique powers. \nBut someone else has an eye on the young girl, someone who understand exactly what the prophecy means - and exactly what Ciri's power can do. This time Geralt may have met his match. Read by Peter Kenny.",
"title": "Blood of Elves The Witcher, Book 1 (Unabridged)"
}
}
}

@Gokalex commented on GitHub (Sep 9, 2023): { "programs": [], "streams": [ { "index": 0, "codec_name": "aac", "codec_long_name": "AAC (Advanced Audio Coding)", "profile": "LC", "codec_type": "audio", "codec_tag_string": "mp4a", "codec_tag": "0x6134706d", "sample_fmt": "fltp", "sample_rate": "22050", "channels": 2, "channel_layout": "stereo", "bits_per_sample": 0, "initial_padding": 0, "id": "0x1", "r_frame_rate": "0/0", "avg_frame_rate": "0/0", "time_base": "1/22050", "start_pts": 0, "start_time": "0.000000", "duration_ts": 865487872, "duration": "39251.150658", "bit_rate": "62794", "nb_frames": "845203", "extradata_size": 2, "disposition": { "default": 1, "dub": 0, "original": 0, "comment": 0, "lyrics": 0, "karaoke": 0, "forced": 0, "hearing_impaired": 0, "visual_impaired": 0, "clean_effects": 0, "attached_pic": 0, "timed_thumbnails": 0, "captions": 0, "descriptions": 0, "metadata": 0, "dependent": 0, "still_image": 0 }, "tags": { "language": "und", "handler_name": "SoundHandler", "vendor_id": "[0][0][0][0]" } }, { "index": 1, "codec_name": "bin_data", "codec_long_name": "binary data", "codec_type": "data", "codec_tag_string": "text", "codec_tag": "0x74786574", "id": "0x2", "r_frame_rate": "0/0", "avg_frame_rate": "0/0", "time_base": "1/1000", "start_pts": 0, "start_time": "0.000000", "duration_ts": 32171850, "duration": "32171.850000", "nb_frames": "7", "extradata_size": 43, "disposition": { "default": 0, "dub": 0, "original": 0, "comment": 0, "lyrics": 0, "karaoke": 0, "forced": 0, "hearing_impaired": 0, "visual_impaired": 0, "clean_effects": 0, "attached_pic": 0, "timed_thumbnails": 0, "captions": 0, "descriptions": 0, "metadata": 0, "dependent": 0, "still_image": 0 }, "tags": { "language": "eng", "handler_name": "SubtitleHandler" } }, { "index": 2, "codec_name": "mjpeg", "codec_long_name": "Motion JPEG", "profile": "Baseline", "codec_type": "video", "codec_tag_string": "[0][0][0][0]", "codec_tag": "0x0000", "width": 500, "height": 500, "coded_width": 500, "coded_height": 500, "closed_captions": 0, "film_grain": 0, "has_b_frames": 0, "sample_aspect_ratio": "1:1", "display_aspect_ratio": "1:1", "pix_fmt": "yuvj420p", "level": -99, "color_range": "pc", "color_space": "bt470bg", "chroma_location": "center", "refs": 1, "id": "0x0", "r_frame_rate": "90000/1", "avg_frame_rate": "0/0", "time_base": "1/90000", "start_pts": 0, "start_time": "0.000000", "duration_ts": 3532603559, "duration": "39251.150656", "bits_per_raw_sample": "8", "disposition": { "default": 0, "dub": 0, "original": 0, "comment": 0, "lyrics": 0, "karaoke": 0, "forced": 0, "hearing_impaired": 0, "visual_impaired": 0, "clean_effects": 0, "attached_pic": 1, "timed_thumbnails": 0, "captions": 0, "descriptions": 0, "metadata": 0, "dependent": 0, "still_image": 0 } } ], "chapters": [ { "id": 0, "time_base": "1/1000", "start": 0, "start_time": "0.000000", "end": 5227926, "end_time": "5227.926000", "tags": { "title": "001" } }, { "id": 1, "time_base": "1/1000", "start": 5227926, "start_time": "5227.926000", "end": 9587287, "end_time": "9587.287000", "tags": { "title": "002" } }, { "id": 2, "time_base": "1/1000", "start": 9587287, "start_time": "9587.287000", "end": 13846384, "end_time": "13846.384000", "tags": { "title": "003" } }, { "id": 3, "time_base": "1/1000", "start": 13846384, "start_time": "13846.384000", "end": 20254162, "end_time": "20254.162000", "tags": { "title": "004" } }, { "id": 4, "time_base": "1/1000", "start": 20254162, "start_time": "20254.162000", "end": 25759521, "end_time": "25759.521000", "tags": { "title": "005" } }, { "id": 5, "time_base": "1/1000", "start": 25759521, "start_time": "25759.521000", "end": 32171850, "end_time": "32171.850000", "tags": { "title": "006" } }, { "id": 6, "time_base": "1/10000000", "start": 321718500000, "start_time": "32171.850000", "end": 392511506580, "end_time": "39251.150658", "tags": { "title": "007" } } ], "format": { "filename": "/audiobooks/ENG/Andrzej Sapkowski/The Witcher Saga/1994 - Blood of Elves (Krew elfów)/Blood of elves (the Witcher 1).m4b", "nb_streams": 3, "nb_programs": 0, "format_name": "mov,mp4,m4a,3gp,3g2,mj2", "format_long_name": "QuickTime / MOV", "start_time": "0.000000", "duration": "39251.150658", "size": "311521882", "bit_rate": "63493", "probe_score": 100, "tags": { "major_brand": "isom", "minor_version": "512", "compatible_brands": "isomiso2mp41", "artist": "Andrzej Sapkowski", "composer": "Peter Kenny", "album": "Blood of Elves (Unabridged)", "date": "2014", "encoder": "inAudible 1.97", "comment": "For more than a hundred years humans, dwarves, gnomes and elves lived together in relative peace. But times have changed, the uneasy peace is over and now the races once again fight each other - and themselves: Dwarves are killing their kinsmen, and elve", "genre": "Audiobook", "description": "For more than a hundred years humans, dwarves, gnomes and elves lived together in relative peace. But times have changed, the uneasy peace is over and now the races once again fight each other - and themselves: Dwarves are killing their kinsmen, and elves are murdering humans and elves, at least those elves who are friendly to humans... Into this tumultuous time is born a child for whom the witchers of the world have been waiting. \nCiri, the granddaughter of Queen Calanthe, the Lioness of Cintra, has strange powers and a stranger destiny, for prophecy names her the Flame, one with the power to change the world - for good, or for evil... Geralt, the witcher of Rivia, has taken Ciri to the relative safety of the Witchers' Settlement, but it soon becomes clear that Ciri isn't like the other witchers. As the political situation grows ever dimmer and the threat of war hangs almost palpably over the land, Geralt searches for someone to train Ciri's unique powers. \nBut someone else has an eye on the young girl, someone who understand exactly what the prophecy means - and exactly what Ciri's power can do. This time Geralt may have met his match. Read by Peter Kenny.", "title": "Blood of Elves The Witcher, Book 1 (Unabridged)" } } }
Author
Owner

@ahm427 commented on GitHub (Sep 11, 2023):

I had a similar issue today where the book would not stream in the app, but streamed fine in browser. The book series was in m4b format with epub files. I found that removing the epub file fixed this issue for some reason. This same issue occurred for all six volumes of the series, and the same solution of removing the epub file fixed it.

@ahm427 commented on GitHub (Sep 11, 2023): I had a similar issue today where the book would not stream in the app, but streamed fine in browser. The book series was in m4b format with epub files. I found that removing the epub file fixed this issue for some reason. This same issue occurred for all six volumes of the series, and the same solution of removing the epub file fixed it.
Author
Owner

@Gokalex commented on GitHub (Sep 11, 2023):

Tried that, i removed the epub file, re-scanned, but still does not work, tried also removing the pdf file, nope.

@Gokalex commented on GitHub (Sep 11, 2023): Tried that, i removed the epub file, re-scanned, but still does not work, tried also removing the pdf file, nope.
Author
Owner

@Mavarius1989 commented on GitHub (Sep 19, 2023):

Same problem. M4b file and one epub. Deleting epub fixed it instantly, even without rescan.

@Mavarius1989 commented on GitHub (Sep 19, 2023): Same problem. M4b file and one epub. Deleting epub fixed it instantly, even without rescan.
Author
Owner

@Mavarius1989 commented on GitHub (Sep 19, 2023):

It also happens with mp3, so nothing to do with m4b. When you change the epub ebook to supplementary it works again

@Mavarius1989 commented on GitHub (Sep 19, 2023): It also happens with mp3, so nothing to do with m4b. When you change the epub ebook to supplementary it works again
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Owner

@advplyr commented on GitHub (Sep 19, 2023):

Found the issue here and it will be fixed in the next server release. You could use the edge docker tag if you want the fix quicker

@advplyr commented on GitHub (Sep 19, 2023): Found the issue here and it will be fixed in the next server release. You could use the `edge` docker tag if you want the fix quicker
Author
Owner

@wymangr commented on GitHub (Sep 26, 2023):

@advplyr confirmed the edge tag fixed the issue. Nice work!

@wymangr commented on GitHub (Sep 26, 2023): @advplyr confirmed the `edge` tag fixed the issue. Nice work!
Author
Owner

@advplyr commented on GitHub (Sep 30, 2023):

Fixed in v2.4.4

@advplyr commented on GitHub (Sep 30, 2023): Fixed in [v2.4.4](https://github.com/advplyr/audiobookshelf/releases/tag/v2.4.4)
Author
Owner

@Gokalex commented on GitHub (Oct 1, 2023):

Can confirm, just updated the server to 2.4.4 and now it plays on my android phone!
Thanks!

@Gokalex commented on GitHub (Oct 1, 2023): Can confirm, just updated the server to 2.4.4 and now it plays on my android phone! Thanks!
Author
Owner

@MrInveigler commented on GitHub (Oct 23, 2023):

Hi, hate to throw a spanner at things, but wanted to report that I'm still seeing this issue. M4B, no epubs or PDFs in the folder. And the server is definitely on 2.4.4. Deleted cache and data from Android App, and still doesn't work. The annoying thing is that it's not ALL M4B files. But yes, consistently works on browser regardless.

@MrInveigler commented on GitHub (Oct 23, 2023): Hi, hate to throw a spanner at things, but wanted to report that I'm still seeing this issue. M4B, no epubs or PDFs in the folder. And the server is definitely on 2.4.4. Deleted cache and data from Android App, and still doesn't work. The annoying thing is that it's not ALL M4B files. But yes, consistently works on browser regardless.
Author
Owner

@nichwall commented on GitHub (Oct 24, 2023):

Hi, hate to throw a spanner at things, but wanted to report that I'm still seeing this issue. M4B, no epubs or PDFs in the folder. And the server is definitely on 2.4.4. Deleted cache and data from Android App, and still doesn't work. The annoying thing is that it's not ALL M4B files. But yes, consistently works on browser regardless.

Could be related to this issue?
https://github.com/advplyr/audiobookshelf/issues/1872

@nichwall commented on GitHub (Oct 24, 2023): > Hi, hate to throw a spanner at things, but wanted to report that I'm still seeing this issue. M4B, no epubs or PDFs in the folder. And the server is definitely on 2.4.4. Deleted cache and data from Android App, and still doesn't work. The annoying thing is that it's not ALL M4B files. But yes, consistently works on browser regardless. Could be related to this issue? https://github.com/advplyr/audiobookshelf/issues/1872
Author
Owner

@MrInveigler commented on GitHub (Oct 24, 2023):

Hi, hate to throw a spanner at things, but wanted to report that I'm still seeing this issue. M4B, no epubs or PDFs in the folder. And the server is definitely on 2.4.4. Deleted cache and data from Android App, and still doesn't work. The annoying thing is that it's not ALL M4B files. But yes, consistently works on browser regardless.

Could be related to this issue? advplyr/audiobookshelf#1872

so might need to do some re-encoding? Thank you. I will give it a shot and will report back

@MrInveigler commented on GitHub (Oct 24, 2023): > > Hi, hate to throw a spanner at things, but wanted to report that I'm still seeing this issue. M4B, no epubs or PDFs in the folder. And the server is definitely on 2.4.4. Deleted cache and data from Android App, and still doesn't work. The annoying thing is that it's not ALL M4B files. But yes, consistently works on browser regardless. > > Could be related to this issue? [advplyr/audiobookshelf#1872](https://github.com/advplyr/audiobookshelf/issues/1872) so might need to do some re-encoding? Thank you. I will give it a shot and will report back
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Reference: starred/audiobookshelf-app#696